Electrical service conduit system and method of use

ABSTRACT

A system and method to route electrical service conduits through the interior of a building and also to comply with the National Electrical Code(NEC). The system includes the use of a two inch concrete encasement which is reinforced by metal plates. A lower portion of the concrete encasement has a flat metal bar therein for mounting to rods extending from a secure ceiling area of a building. The protective nature of the encasement enables the service conduit to be designated as outside of a building and thus in compliance with NEC standards.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to the building andelectrical service conductor arts.

In accordance with the National Electrical Code, hereinafter “NEC”,electrical service conductors must be positioned so as not to passthrough the interior of a building.

Electrical service conductors are considered to be outside of a buildingif they are confined by not less than two inches of brick or concrete.

As shown in the Prior Art drawing of FIG. 2, a building 100 is servicedvia service conductors 101 and transformer 102.

When new service conductors are installed, current practice requirestearing up the concrete floor 105, installing the service conductors,and reconstructing the floor. This is clearly a very costly andtime-consuming process.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to set forth anovel system and method to avoid the above described costly process andstill be within the requirements of the NEC.

It is a further object of the invention to demonstrate a speciallydesigned encasement system which may be utilized, for example, in theupper area 107 of FIG. 2.

It is also an object to describe an electrical conduit encasement systemwhich is designed to be suspended from a solid structural ceilingsupport of a building, e.g. from a purlin.

It is a further object to show a system and method which may beeconomically manufactured and used for widespread commercial appeal inthe building and electrical service arts.

These and other objects and advantages of the disclosed system andmethod of use will be apparent to those of skill in the art from thedescription which follows.

PRIOR ART PATENTS AND DESIGNS

During the course of preparing this specification for submission to theU.S. Patent Office, a complete search of the prior art was conducted inall Classes related to the invention.

Related U.S. Patents are cited as follows:

-   U.S. Pat. No. 4,411,409 showing plastic tubing with a concrete duct,-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,764,105 showing precast concrete ducting,-   U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,232 describing a ducting sleeve having a nesting    half-shell configuration.

The invention described herein is believed to be clearly patentable overall known systems and methods of use in the electrical service conduitarts.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An encasement system is provided which includes a lower encasementmember and an upper mating encasement member.

The encasement members are formed of foam impregnated lightweightconcrete and are two inches thick to meet the NEC requirements.

The encasements have steel elements embedded therein to secure the topand bottom sections and also to provide support from a solid structuralceiling element.

The method steps broadly include the following:

-   1) Hang a lower encasement section from rods attached to a secure,    solid ceiling area,-   2) Install a PVC plastic conduit including at least one electrical    service conductor,-   3) Install the upper encasement member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a side schematic view of the principal components of theinvention and shows the intended method of use.

FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of a building having electrical serviceconductors being supplied via a transformer unit. The conventional priorart use is indicated as well as the area where the present invention maybe advantageously utilized.

FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of some of the principal components ofthe invention and shows the upper and lower encasement structures in amated position. The combined plastic pipe and plural electrical serviceconduits are also shown.

FULL DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing FIG. 1, the overall electrical service conduitsystem is indicated at numeral 10.

Numeral 20 indicates an upper solid portion of the interior of abuilding to be serviced.

Extending from the solid element 20 are plural rod elements 21 and 22.Rods 21 and 22 are attached to a lower plate means 25 by nut and washerunits shown at 26 and 27.

The lower plate 25 is part of a lower concrete encasement 30. Theconcrete used in unit 30 can be, for example, a type of foam impregnatedlightweight concrete.

The lower flat plate 25 has been weld-mounted to an upper curved plate35.

Concrete encasement section 30 is precast and is generally in the shapeof a half clamshell for purposes to be further described.

The lower concrete encasement section 30 has recessed area portions asindicated at numerals 33 a and 33 b. It further has protruding exteriorportions as shown at numerals 34 a and 34 b.

The upper curved plate 35 terminates in horizontal ends 38 a and 38 brespectively.

The system further includes an upper concrete encasement section 40.

Encasement section 40 includes a curved reinforcing steel element 45which terminates in horizontal end portions 48 a and 48 b respectively.

The upper concrete encasement section 40 further includes outer recessedareas 44 a and 44 b. It also includes inner protruding portions 43 a and43 b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the system includes an interior PVC plastic pipeindicated at letter P and at least one or more electrical supply linesas indicated at E1 and E2. Encasement section 40 is also in the shape ofa half clamshell for mating with the lower encasement section 30.

FIG. 3 shows schematically how the upper and lower encasement sections30 and 40 are mated together via the recessed and protruding portionspreviously described.

As further shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal portions of steel reinforcingbars 35 and 45 may be joined by means of bolts indicated schematicallyat numerals 49 a and 49 b.

The method steps utilized in practice of the invention are as follows:

-   a) suspending rod elements 21 and 22 from a secure and solid ceiling    area 20,-   b) attaching a lower encasement structure 30 to the suspended rods,    the lower encasement structure having two reinforcing steel bars    therein,-   c) placing electrical conduit means in the system,-   d) adding an upper encasement structure to the system in a sealing    and mating fashion,-   e) securing the upper encasement structure 40 to the lower    encasement structure 30.

It is to be understood that the lower and upper encasement structures 30and 40 are fabricated of pre-cast concrete and comprise a foamimpregnated lightweight concrete.

The lower encasement structure may have a flat lower side, as shown inFIG. 1, to accomodate parallel electrical supply runs where needed.

While a particular system and a method of use have been shown anddescribed, it is intended in this specification to cover all equivalentsystems and methods of use which would reasonably occur to those ofskill in the building and electrical conduit supply arts.

The system and method described may have uses in other specializedenvironments where enhanced protection of electrical service conduits isdeemed necessary.

1. A-method of encasing an electrical supply conduit and running saidconduit through a building having a solid and secure ceiling areacomprising the steps of: a) suspending a plurality of rod elements fromsaid solid and secure ceiling area, b) attaching a lower encasementstructure to said rod elements, said lower encasement structurecomprising a two inch thick curved shell element and including astraight steel reinforcing bar means for attachment to said rodelements, said lower encasement structure further including a curvedreinforcing steel bar means having end portions which extend outside ofsaid lower encasement structure, c) placing at least one electricalsupply conduit within said lower encasement structure, wherein saidelectrical supply conduit is contained within a plastic pipe, d)providing an upper encasement structure, said upper encasement structurecomprising a two inch thick curved shell element and including a curvedreinforcing steel bar means having end portions which extend outside ofsaid upper encasement structure, e) providing attaching means forconnecting the lower encasement structure to the upper encasementstructure.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said lower encasementstructure and said upper encasement structure are fabricated of concretewhich includes a foamed material to provide a light weight overallstructure.
 3. The method of claim 2 wherein, in the lower encasementstructure, the straight steel reinforcing bar means is welded to thecurved reinforcing steel bar.
 4. In combination with the interiorceiling area of a building structure, an encasement system combined withelectrical service entrance conduits comprising: a lower encasementbeing curved and formed of foam impregnated lightweight concrete, anupper encasement being curved and also formed of foam impregnatedlightweight concrete, said lower and upper encasements having curvedreinforcing steel bars therein, said lower encasement further having astraight reinforcing steel bar therein, a plurality of rods extendingfrom a solid and secure area of the ceiling, said lower encasementstructure being attached to said rods, said upper encasement structurebeing attached to said lower encasement structure.
 5. An encasementsystem for use with electrical service conduits, said system includingan upper encasement structure fabricated of concrete, a lower encasementstructure fabricated of concrete, means for joining said upper and lowerstructures together.
 6. The encasement system of claim 5 and furtherincluding means for suspending said encasement system for a ceiling. 7.The encasement system of claim 6 and further including reinforcing barmeans placed in pre-cast concrete for installation in a building and forrouting an electrical supply conduit through a building in compliancewith an electrical code.